Match Report: First win in five for Leatherhead

Leatherhead FC 2 – 1 Harlow Town, Tanners end losing streak with their first win in five games.

Attendance: 406

First half

The tanners started with high intensity in the first half, pressing high up the pitch in the opening exchanges as they looked to get an early goal. However, it was Harlow that looked the more likely side to score playing possession football and tiring out the Greens. They nearly did get the opener when the ball was looped inside the penalty area. Tom Richards put in a brave block and cleared it but at the expense of his ear. He was down for a while nursing his cut ear and had to change his shirt from the blood.

Harlow Town continued their pressure winning the first corner of the game which was palmed away by Zaki Oualah. The game continued in this way for the first half, Harlow Town creating a few half-chances including a long shot that flashed over the bar. Eventually, the deadlock was broken when Town’s number nine Alexander Read sped past Lee Minshull and squared the ball to former Arsenal youth player Nigel Neita who finished the opportunity, passing the ball in the bottom corner.

The reaction from Leatherhead was fantastic. They pushed up the field and won a corner. Sammy Moore whipped it in but it was cleared by the Harlow defence. Sean Clohessy picked up the second ball and found Niall Mcmanus in a crowded penalty area but the header from Mcmanus was past the post. This forward momentum did pay off towards the end of the first half when Jack Midson found the back of the net with his head. He met Tom Richard’s cross and equalised for the Tanners! The first half drew to a close with the scores at 1-1. A big second half awaited for the sides with the three points on a knife edge.

Second half

The second half kicked off with a series of close chances for Yannis Ambroisine. He stabbed Lee Minshull’s cross wide of the post and a few minutes later, stretched for a deep cross and was inches away from goal. Leatherhead continued their pressure and looked the most likely team to score and sure enough, the Greens grabbed the winner in the 58th minute. Reece Williams Bowers finishing off a terrific passing move from the Tanners. The Englishman struck the ball on the half volley following the draw dropping passing move.

The final stages of the fixture were showered in controversy with only one booking despite the violent nature of the match. Sammy Moore suffered an injury as a scrap broke out in the box following a foul from a corner. He could miss Saturday’s fixture against Margate in the FA Cup. Harlow Town had a strong appeal for a handball and Jack Midson’s appeal for a Leatherhead penalty were waved away. The score finished 2-1 although a moment of madness for the Harlow defence nearly resulted in an own goal. Ashlee Jones, the goalkeeper, saw his kick sent straight back at him. A miscommunication between Jones and the centre-backs led to a header just wide of the post.

The Tanners are away to Margate in the FA cup next week. All support is greatly appreciated as we continue the magic cup story. Come on you Tanners!